Vitreous Levels of Pigment Epithelium–Derived Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Macular Edema with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate whether pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) influences macular edema in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).Materials and Methods: In 27 patients who had CRVO with macular edema and 21 patients with nonischemic ocular diseases (control group), retinal ischemia was evaluated by measuring the area of capillary nonperfusion on fluorescein angiography and macular edema was examined by optical coherence tomography. Vitreous fluid samples were obtained during pars plana vitrectomy.Results: The vitreous level of VEGF was significantly higher in the CRVO patients than in the controls (median: 366 vs. 15.6 pg/ml, P < 0.0001), while the vitreous level of PEDF was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (median: 17.5 vs. 28.4 ng/ml, P = 0.0298). Vitreous levels of VEGF were significantly higher in CRVO patients with retinal ischemia than in those without ischemia (P < 0.0001), while PEDF levels did not show a significant difference. Vitreous levels of VEGF and PEDF were related to the retinal thickness at the central fovea (P = 0.0059 and P = 0.0308, respectively).Conclusions: VEGF and PEDF may independently influence retinal vascular permeability in CRVO patients with macular edema.